Can opener



Sept. 6, 1955 Filed Feb. 8, 1954 A. CARP CAN OPENER 2 Sheets-Sheet lSept. 6, 1955 CARP 2,716,897

CAN OPENER Filed Feb. 8, 1954 2 SheetsSheet 2 United States Patent 'CANOPENER Arthur Carp, Ferguson, Mo. Application February 8, 1954, SerialNo. 408,931

12-Claims. (Cl.30-15.5)

This invention relates to can openers, and more par- T ticular'ly to canopeners o'f the type comprising a pair of pivoted'levers, one carryinga'turning cutter and the other carrying a traction wheel, and operableif desired independently of wall brackets or other supports, except thecan itself which is to'be opened.

This invention is an improvement upon the can opener constructions shownin my U. S. Patents 2,573,400 and 2,600,615, dated October 30, 1951, andJune 17, 1952, respectively, and in my copending U. S. applicationentitled Can Opener, Serial-No. 357,319, filed May 25, 1953.

Among the several objects of the invention may be noted the provision ofa can'opener of the class described, which is of simplified-constructionand simpler to operate; the provision of a can opener of this classwhich is so constructed as inherently to assure its proper app'licationto a can to be opened; the provision of a can-opener of .this classwhich is soconstructed that the traction wheel is capable of springingmovement relative to the cutter when the levers are closed on oneanother, to allow the can opener to compensate for irregularities .of acan, but which is held against such springing movement until the leversare-closed so as to facilitate the positive piercing of the top of thecan by the cutter and positive and accurate clinching of the-opener tothe can; the provision of a can opener of this class which is at anessential point self-cleaning, and wherein provision is made forfacilitating the removal of the traction Wheel for such cleaning orreplacement. Other objects and features will be in part apparent and inpart pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the constructions 1."

hereinafter described, the scope of the invention being indicated in thefollowing claims.

-In the accompanying drawings, in which one of various possibleembodiments of the invention is illustrated,

Fig. l is a side elevation of the can opener as viewed from the insideshowing it in fully open position before application to a'can;

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the can "opener as viewed from the outsideshowing it in fully open position as in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing anintermediate positionoccupied by parts of the can opener as it is manipulated to pierce thetop of a can;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing 'parts in theintermediate position of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Figs. 1 and 3, showing the opener :as itappears in closed position, but not on a can;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Figs. 2 and 4, but showing parts in the Fig.5 closed position;

Fig. 7 is an edgewise elevational view of the can opener (as viewed fromthe right side of Fig. 1) and showing the opener as preliminarilyapplied to a can, parts of the opener being broken away and shown insection, ,the can being fragmentarily shown in full elevation;

Fig. 8 is a horizontal cross section taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 7; and,

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 7, illustrating the opener 2 in closedposition, having pierced the top of a can and ready fortraverse'movernent, the can again being shown in fullelevation.

"Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding partsthroughout the several views of 'the drawings.

The terms up and down will 'be used hereinafter in relation to thedevice when operatively applied to an upright can, as shown in Figs. 7"and 9.

The inside of the can opener is defined as its side which is toward thecan when applied 'to a can, and the outside of the can opener is theside away from the can.

Referring to the drawings, a can opener constructed in accordance withthis invention is shown to comprise a pair of pivotally connected levers'1 and 3. The firstlever '1 comprises a plate 5 having an outside flange'7 along one edge. At the upper end of the flange 7 isahandle grip 9extending inward essentially-at a right angle. The plate 5 has a slot 11entering from its side edge opposite the flange 7 and separating theplate into an upper-portion 13 and a lower portion 15. The upper portionconstitutes a resilient cantilever arm or plate portion. It is normallycoplanar with .the lower plate portion 15, but is adapted to be-sprungout of 'theplane of the lower portion, and also to be sprung verticallyto some extent toward and away from the lower portion. The slot 11 ispreferably of the configuration disclosed in myaforernentioned copendingapplication. The flange 7 may have an extension-at its lower end formedas a pointed and sidewardly sharpened .punch 17 for piercinga hole inthe top of a can.

A toothed traction wheel 19 is rotary on the inside of the arm 13 oflever 1 adjacent the free end of the arm opposite the flange 7. Thetraction wheel has a hub 21 (see Fig. 7) which is threaded on a screw 23extending from an operating key 25. The thread is such that turning ofthe key in can opening direction (clockwise as viewed in Fig. 6.) 'tendsto tighten the wheel on the key. The arm 13 has an opening receiving thehub 21 and is formed with an outwardly projecting annular flange 27around the opening providing a bearing for the hub 21. A shoulder at theinner end of the key prevents axial movement of the wheel and keyassembly in .the bearing 27. In the arm 13 is a hole '31 which iscrossed by the periphery of the traction wheel. This hole serves thepurpose of collecting dirt which might otherwise gather under thetraction wheel and which without .the hole would gradually foul theunderside of the teethof the wheel. The side of the hole 31 functions asa scraper to remove this material and facilitate its escape. It alsoserves to accept a nail or the like to anchor the traction wheel againstrotation to facilitate unscrewing the key '25 from the wheel. Uponunscrewing the key, the wheel may be removed for purposes of cleaningit'and bearing 27. The lower portion 15 of the plate 5 is formed with aninwardly extending shoe 33 located at the lower edge of the slot 11 andtoward the open end of the slot. The inner edge of this shoe iseoncavely formed or zcurved as indicated at 35 to correspondapproximately to the curvatures of the cylindrical walls of cans. Theshoe also is inclined downward away from the open end of the slot, asappearsin Figs. 1, 3 and 5.

The second lever 3 comprises a plate 37 having an outside flange 39along one edge. At the upper end of the flange 39 is a handle .grip 40extending inward essentially at a right angle. The plate 37 is formed tohave an inwardly olfset lower portion or land 41 and an outwardly offsetupper .portion 43. A rotary cutter is mounted on the inside of the upperportion 43 of plate 37 toward the flanged edge of the plate. The cutteris rotary on a stud 47 (see Fig. 7) mounted on a protrusion or bulgedportion 49 of the upper portion 43 of plate 37. It is held on the studby a screw 51 threaded in the end of the stud. The cutter is backed byan integral flange 53 providing an annular groove 55. The inside face ofthe cutter is beveled as indicated at 57 and the cutter axis isdownwardly inclined at an angle corresponding to the bevel. The uppercorner portion of the plate 37 opposite its flanged edge is struckinward to provide a tongue 61 adapted to engage the top of a can head13. The tongue projects over the upper edge of plate 5. It is preferablymade downwardly convex, as appears in Figs. 1, 3 and 5.

The first and second plates 5 and 37 are pivotally connected at 63 as bymeans of a bolt and nut fastener, the bolt extending through the lowerportion of plate 5 and the land 41 of plate 37, with plate 5 on theinside of plate 37 and flanges 7 and 39 extending outward at oppositeedges of the opener. The land 41 is in face-toface engagement with theoutside face of the lower portion 15 of plate 5 (see Figs. 7 and 9).Hence, the upper portion 43 of plate 37 is normally outwardly offsetfrom the arm 13 (see Fig. 7).

In the upper portion 43 of plate 37 is a slot 65 which receives thebearing 27. The first lever 1 is swingable with respect to the secondlever 3 between the open position shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 7, which isdetermined by engagement of bearing 27 with the end of slot 65 away fromthe flange 3S, and the closed position shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 9, whichis determined by the engagement of the edge of plate 37 opposite flange39 with the flange 7 of plate 5. The slot 65 is so formed that hearing27 is engageable with a cam portion 67 of the lower edge of the slottoward the end of the slot away from flange 39 to hold the arm 13against downward springing movement in its plane as lever 1 is swungclosed. Portion 69 of the lower edge of the slot 65 toward the flange 39is relieved in relation to cam portion 67 so that when the lever 1 is inthe closed position, clearance between bearing 27 and portion 69 isprovided to allow downward springing movement in its plane of arm 13.For this purpose, portion 67 is curved on an arc centered substantiallyin pivot 63 and having a radius corresponding substantially to thedistance from the axis of pivot 63 to the nearest point on the peripheryof hearing 27. The bottom of portion 69 is spaced from the axis of pivot63 a distance less than this radius.

The lower portion or land 41 of plate 37 is of such outline that in theclosed position of the lever 1 it is wholly below the arm 13 (see Fig.5). Accordingly, when the lever 1 is closed, arm 13 is free forspringing movement out of its normal plane away from the cutter towardthe upper portion 43 of plate 37. When the lever 1 is open. land 41 isin face-to-face engagement with arm 13 and holds the arm against suchoutward springing movement. As the lever 1 is swung from open to closedposition, land 41 holds arm 13 against springing movement until thelever 1 reaches the closed position. Also, as the lever 1, is swung fromopen to closed position, arm 13 is held from springing laterally withrespect to the axis of the traction wheel downward in its plane awayfrom the cutter by the engagement of the bearing 27 in the narrowportion 67 of slot 65. However, when the lever 1 approaches the closedposition, bearing 27 rides off the lower edge portion 67 of slot 65, andthe arm 13 and the traction wheel may then spring downward away from thecutter. See Fig. 4, showing the bearing 27 riding off the end of 67 asthe lever nears the closed position.

Extending outward from the lower end of plate 5 at right angles to theplate are tongues 71 and 73. Either tongue may be placed under the edgeof a crown cap for lifting the cap. Tongue 71 is cooperable with punch17 for punching a hole in the top of a can.

To open a cam C such as shown in Figs. 7--9, the levers before the lever1 reaches the closed position,

1 and 3 are swung apart to open position, if not already in openposition, and the can opener is applied to the can by hooking the cutter45 on the can head B and allowing the entire opener to hang downalongside the can with the tongue 61 bearing on top of the head (seeFig. 7). The can opener inherently swings inward toward the can,pivoting at the point of engagement of the cutting edge of the cutterwith the top of the can so that the high end of the shoe 33 comes intoengagement with the side of the can (see the dotted line positionillustrated in Fig. 8). The can opener then inherently pivots about thepoint of engagement of the high end of the shoe 33 with the side of thecan so that the curved edge of the shoe comes into engagement with thewall of the can (see the solid line position illustrated in Fig. 8). Atthis time the tongue 61 overlies the bead B. The stated pivotingmovements of the opener result in proper positioning of the cutter withrespect to the cam and in proper positioning of the traction wheel forengagement with the bottom of the can bead when later lever 1 is swungclosed. Free swinging movement of the opener on the can is prevented bythe aligning actions of the tongue 61 and the high end of the curve 35of shoe 33.

Then the lever 1 is swung to the closed position to dispose the tractionwheel in cooperative relation to the cutter by grasping the handle grips9 and 4-0 and moving the grip 9 toward the grip 41). As this occurs, thearm 13 is initially held against springing movement out of its normalplane in the direction away from the cutter by the engagement of land 41with the arm. It is also initially held against springing movement inits plane away from the cutter by the riding of the bearing 27 on theportion 67 of the lower edge of slot 65. In this respect, it will beobserved that portion 67 of the lower edge of the slot acts as a supportfor the bearing 27 to prevent the arm 13 from springing down. With thearm 13 held against springing movement out of its plane away from thecutter, it is assured that the traction wheel is retained in positionfor being forced tightly into proper engagement with the bottom of thecan head and also causing the cutter positively to pierce the canwithout giving way due to any springing action in its plane of arm 13.Thus the traction wheel comes into solid gripping engagement with thebottom of the can bead B and the cutter is positively forced downward topierce the top of the can. This piercing occurs while the arm 13 isstill held against springing downward away from the cutter by theengagement of bearing 27 with portion 67 of the lower edge of slot 65.This results in full force being brought to bear on the cutter to insurethat it pierces the top of the can. If the arm 13 were not held againstthe springing downward as lever 1 is swung closed, under somecircumstances of strong can tops the arm 13 might simply spring downwardand relieve the downward force of the cutter on the top of the can tosuch an extent that the cutter would not pierce the can. Thusreliability of piercing is effected.

Upon final closing of the lever 1, the can head B is received in thegroove 55 of the cutter. With the lever 1 closed, the opener takes agrip on the head by the engagement of the traction wheel with the bottomof the bead, engagement of the flange 53 with the top of the bead, andthe engagement of the inside beveled face of the cutter with the insideof the bead. The grip is a resilient grip since the arm 13 is releasedfor springing downward and outward away from the cutter as indicated bythe arrow D in Fig. 9 (compare with Fig. 7). Traction is therebyestablished between the wheel and the can so that by turning the key 25with one hand in clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 6, the tractionwheel is caused to advance around the bottom of the bead. This forcesthe cutter smoothly to trim out the top of the can. The drag resistanceof the cutter on iever 3 tends to swing this lever toward lever 1. Theadvance of the traction wheel tends to swing the lever l toward thelever 3. Accordingly, the levers hold themselves in closed position asthe key is turned, and it is not necessary to use the other .hand tohold the levers together. Thus, the other hand is left free to hold thecan steady. The arm 13,, being released forspringing movement, isadaptedto yield further outward and .downward in the direction indicated by thearrow in .Fig. 9 when the traction wheel encounters a hump such as thecanseam orany other irregularity. After the top has been cut from thecan, the rotation of the'keymay be reversed to cause lever 1 to swingaway from lever 3, thus allowing removal of the opener from the can.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the parts 7, 13 and 15 oflever 1 function byrelative springing movements. Accordingly, thematerial of which these parts is composed is case-hardened and thendrawn to produce a suitable temper for the ,purpose. It will of coursebe understood that other methods of producing a springy condition may beemployed.

An important use of the flange '53 is that it receives strong reactionfrom the traction wheel 19. This ensures that the cutter 45 operates tocut by a rolling action, even though the bearing for the cutter isclogged or semifrozen because of acids and juices. It is important thata cutter wheel turn; otherwise the cutting action is by sliding, withthe result that slivers are torn off from the metal and fall into thefood, or the wheel becomes excessively wornat the cutting point.

Another feature of the invention is that although the opener is.preferably of the hand type (as distinguished from the wall type) itcan be used either'by holding the can and allowing the opener totraverse the top of the can, or by holding the opener as on a wallbracket or in the hand and allowing the can to rotate.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of theinvention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As various changes could be made in the above constructions withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention, it is intended that allmatter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanyingdrawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not "in a limitingsense.

'I claim:

1. A can opener comprising first and second pivoted levers, the firstlever having an arm assembly carrying a traction wheel, the second levercarrying a rotary cutter, the first lever being swingable relative "tothe second from an open to a closed position to dispose the wheel incooperative relation to the cutter, said arm assembly being adapted forfirst and second springing movements away from the cutter, the first oneof said springing movements being transverse with respect to the pivotalmovements of the levers and the second springing movement beingsubstantially parallel to said pivotal movements, the second leverhaving a first formation adapted for engagement with the arm assemblyinitially to hold it against said first transverse springing movement asthe first lever is swung from open to closed position, the arm assemblybeing released for said first springing movement when the first lever isin closed position, and the second lever also'having a second formationadapted for engagement with the arm assembly to hold it against saidsecond parallel springing movement as the lever is swung from open toclosed position, the arm assembly being also released for said secondspringing movement when the first lever is in closed position.

2. A can opener comprising first and second pivoted levers, the firstlever having a plate portion carrying a traction wheel, the secondcarrying -a rotary cutter, the first lever being swingable relative tothe second from an open to a closed position to dispose the wheel incooperative relation to the cutter, said plate portion being adapted forspringing movement out of its .normal plane away from the cutter, andthe secondleverlmving 6 aportion adapted .for engagement .withvsaidplate por- .tion to hold .itagainst said .springing movement as-thefirst lever isswung .from open to closed 'position, said plate portionbeingreleased for saidspringing movement when the first lever is .inclosed ,position.

3. .A .can vopener comprising .first and second ,pivoted levers, thefirstleverhaving an arm carryinga traction wheel, sthesecond carrying a:rotary cutter, the first lever .being -swingable relative .to thesecond .from an open to a .closed .position to dispose .the wheel .in.cooperative relation to the .cutter, said .arm being adapted forspringing movementlaterally with respect :to .the .axis .of the traction.wheel away .from the cutter, .and the levers having interengaging means.for holding the .arm against said springing movementas tthe first leveris vswungfrom open :to closed position, the arm being released for saidspringing movement when the first lever is in closed .position.

4. A can opener comprising first and second pivoted levers, the firstlever having a ,plate ,portion carrying a traction Wheel, the secondcarrying a rotary =cutter, the first lever being swingable relative tothe second from an open to a closed ,position to dispose the wheel (incooperative relation -to the cutter, .said plate portion being adaptedfor springing movement out of its normalplane away from the cutter andalso for springing movement in -its plane away from the cutter, thesecond leverlhaving aportion adapted'for'facewise engagement with saidplate portion to hold it against the first-mentioned springing movementas the first lever is swung from open to closed position, the levershaving other interengaging means for holding .the plate portion againstthe second-rnentioned springing movement as the'first lever is swungfromopen to closed position, the .plate .portion 'being released for r bothstated springing movements when the .first lever is in closed position.

.5. A can opener comprising first and second pivoted levers, the firstlever-having an arm carrying a traction wheel on -the inside of theopener, the second .lever comprisingaplate having a portion ofisetoutward "from said arm and carrying a rotary .cutter on the inside ofthe opener, .the'first lever being swingable relative to the second froman open to a closed position to .dispose the wheel in cooperativerelation to the cutter, said arm being adapted for springing movementoutward away from the cutter and toward said offset portion of thesecond -lever 'pla'teythe lower portion of the second .lever plate beingadapted "for engagement with the outside of the'arm'to hold the armagainstsaid springing movement as thefirst lever is swung from open toclosedposition, said lower portion of :the second lever 'plate beingclear of the arm when the first lever is in closed position so that saidarm is thereupon released for said springing movement.

6. A can opener comprising first and second pivoted levers, the "firstlever "having an arm carrying a traction wheel on theinside of theopener, the second lever comprising a plate on the outside of the armand carrying a rotary cutter on'the inside of the opener, the firstlever being swingable relative to the second from an open position to aclosed position to dispose the wheel in cooperative relation to thecutter, said arm being adapted for springing movement laterallywithrespect to the axis of the traction wheel away from the cutter, said armhaving a'bearing for the wheel extending outward from the arm andreceived in a slot in the second lever plate, said bearing beingengageable with an edge portion of the slottohold the 'arm against saidspringing movement as the first lever is swung from open to closedposition, and said slot being formed to provide clearance for thebearing so as to release the arm for said springing movement when thefirst lever is in closed position.

7. A can opener comprising first and second pivoted levers, the firstlever having an arm carrying a tractionwheel -onthe inside of theopener, the second lever comprising a plate having a portion oifsetoutward from said arm and carrying a rotary cutter on the inside of theopener, the first lever being swingable relative to the second from anopen to a closed position to dispose the wheel in cooperative relationto the cutter, said arm being adapted for springing movement outwardaway from the cutter and toward said offset portion of the second leverplate, the lower portion of the second lever plate being adapted forengagement with the outside of the arm to hold the arm against saidspringing movement as the first lever is swung from open to closedposition, said lower portion of the second lever plate being clear ofthe arm when the first lever is in closed position so that said arm isthereupon released for said springing movement, said arm also beingadapted for springing movement laterally with respect to the axis of thetraction wheel away from the cutter, said arm having a bearing for thewheel extending outward from the arm and received in a slot in thesecond lever plate, said bearing being engageable with an edge portionof the slot to hold the arm against said springing movement as the firstlever is swung from open to closed position, and said slot being formedto provide clearance for the hearing so as to release the arm for saidspringing movement when the first lever is in closed position.

8. A can opener having a first lever comprising a first plate formedwith a slot entering from one side edge and dividing it into upper andlower portions, the upper portion normally being substantially coplanarwith the lower portion but adapted to spring outward from the plane ofthe lower portion, a traction wheel rotary on the inside of the upperportion toward its free end, the second lever comprising a second platejoined at a pivot to the lower portion of the first plate on the outsideof the first plate toward the free end of the lower portion, said secondplate having a lower portion in face-to-face engagement with the outsideof the lower portion of the first plate and an upper portion which isoutwardly offset from the first plate, a cutter rotary on the inside ofthe upper portion of the second plate, the first lever being swingablerelative to the second lever from an open to a closed position todispose the wheel in cooperative relation to the cutter, the lowerportion of the second plate being adapted for faceto-face engagementwith the upper portion of the first plate as the first lever swings fromopen toward closed position to hold the upper portion of the first plateagainst outward springing movement until the first lever reaches theclosed position, whereupon the lower portion of the second plate clearsthe upper portion of the first plate to allow outward springing movementthereof.

9. A can opener having a first lever comprising a first plate formedwith a slot entering from one side edge and dividing it into upper andlower portions, the upper portion being adapted to spring in its planetoward and away from the lower portion, a traction wheel rotary on theinside of the upper portion toward its free end, a second levercomprising a second plate joined at a pivot to the lower portion of thefirst plate on the outside of the first plate toward the free end of thelower portion, a cutter rotary on the inside of the upper portion of thesecond plate, the first lever being swingable relative to the secondfrom an open to a closed position to dispose the wheel in cooperativerelation to the cutter, said upper portion of the first plate having abearing for the wheel extending outward from said upper portion andreceived in a slot in the second plate, said bearing being engageablewith a lower edge portion of the slot to hold the upper portion of thefirst plate against said springing movement as the first lever is swungfrom open to closed position, and said slot being formed to provideclearance for the bearing so as to release said upper portion of thefirst plate for said springing movement when the first lever is inclosed position.

10. A can opener havinga first lever comprising a first plate formedwith a slot entering from one side edge and dividing it into upper andlower portions, the upper portion normally being substantially coplanarwith the lower portion but adapted to spring outward from the plane ofthe lower portion, and being also adapted to spring in its plane towardand away from the lower portion, a traction wheel rotary on the insideof the upper portion toward its free end, the second lever cornprising asecond plate joined at a pivot to the lower portion of the first plateon the outside of the first plate toward the free mid of the lowerportion, said second plate having a lower portion in face-to-faceengagement with the outside of the lower portion of the first plate andan upper portion which is outwardly offset from the first plate, acutter rotary on the inside of the upper portion of the second plate,the first lever being swingable relative to the second lever from anopen to a closed position to dispose the wheel in cooperative reia tionto the cutter, the lower portion of the second plate being adapted forface-to-face engagement with the upper portion of the first plate as thefirst lever swings from open toward closed position to hold the upperportion of the first plate against springing from the plane of the lowerportion of the first plate until the first lever reaches the closedposition, whereupon the lower portion of the second plate clears theupper portion of the first plate to allow it to spring outward from saidplane, said upper portion of the first plate having a bearing for thewheel extending outward from said upper portion and received in a slotin the second plate, said bearing being cngageable with a lower edgeportion of the slot to hold the upper portion of the first plate againstspringing in its plane toward the lower portion of the first plate asthe first lever is swung from open to closed position, and said slotbeing formed to provide clearance for the hearing so as to release saidupper portion of the first plate for said springing movement in itsplane when the first lever is in closed position.

11. A can opener having a first lever comprising a first plate having anoutside flange along one edge, said first plate having a slot enteringfrom its other edge and dividing it into upper and lower portions, atraction wheel rotary on the inside of the upper portion toward its freeend, a second lever comprising a second plate joined at a pivot to thelower portion of the first plate on the outside of the first plate andhaving an outside flange along its edge lying opposite the flange of thefirst plate, a rotary cutter on the inside of the upper portion of thesecond plate, said cutter being backed by a fiangc providing an annulargroove for receiving a can head with the flange engaging the top of thebead, the first lever being swingable relative to the second lever froman open to a closed position to dispose the wheel in cooperativerelation to the cutter, the first plate having an inwardly extendingshoe at the lower edge of its slot and toward the open end of the slot,said shoe being inclined downward in the direction away from the openend of the slot and having an edge formed t0 provide an upper endprojection engageable with the side of a can upon application of the canopener thereto when the can is vertical, said second plate having aninwardly extending tongue which projects over the upper edge of. thefirst plate when the first lever is in closed position for engaging uponthe top of a can head, said engagements being on opposite sides of avertical line passing through the cutter, as applied to a vertical can.

12. A can opener comprising first and second pivoted levers, the firstlever having an arm carrying a traction wheel, the second lever carryinga rotary cutter, said cutter having a groove defined by a flange spacedfrom the cutter, the first lever being swingable relative to the secondfrom an open to a closed position to dispose the wheel in cooperativerelation to the cutter on opposite sides of a can rim, said arm beingadapted for springing movement away from the cutter, said flange beingadapted to receive reaction from said springing movement to maintainpositive cutter rotation, and the second lever having a formationadapted for engagement with the arm to hold it against said springingmovement as the first lever is swung from open to closed position, thearm being released for said springing movement when the first lever isin closed position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSNordhaus Nov. 24, 1925 Lanphere Sept. 5, 1939 Arnesen Sept. 9, 1941 CarpOct. 30, 1951

